Kane and Kori were in the kitchen, arguing good-naturedly about the proper amount of salt for the soup. They both looked up when we entered, their faces breaking into relieved smiles.
“About time,” Kane said, coming forward to clap me on the shoulder. “The place was starting to feel like a war zone with all the planning going on.”
Kori moved to Ella’s side, taking her free arm. “Let’s get you settled on the couch. You look dead on your feet.”
I winced at her choice of words, but Ella just smiled tiredly. “That obvious, huh?”
As Kori helped Ella to the living room, Nora trailed behind them. Kane pulled me aside.
“Mikhail’s been all over the property,” he said in a low voice. “Setting up cameras, checking sightlines. Man knows his security.”
“Good,” I said, though I couldn’t quite suppress the twinge of jealousy. This was my home, my territory, and having Mikhail take charge rubbed me the wrong way. But I pushed the feeling aside. This wasn’t about my pride or me.
“How’s Caleb?” I asked, suddenly remembering my brother.
“Stable,” Kane reported. “Doc says the bullet missed any major arteries. He’s staying at the hospital one more night, then coming here.”
Relief washed through me. With everything else happening, I’d pushed my worry for Caleb to the back of my mind. “And the men who attacked the cabin? Did the cops believe the story of a home invasion?”
Kane’s expression darkened. “Yup. They’re currently looking for the men who did it.”
“Which they will never find. My men handledthat,” Declan added, joining our huddle. I nodded, unsurprised. The stories I’d heard about the MacGallan family and now Mikhail Petrova, I knew, were both used to covering their asses. “Where is he now?”
“Here.” The voice came from behind me, and I turned to find him standing in the kitchen doorway, his dark eyes unreadable as they met mine. “We need to talk.”
I glanced toward the living room, where Ella was settling onto the couch with Nora curled against her side. “Give me a minute.”
Mikhail followed my gaze and nodded once, understanding. I moved to the living room, crouching in front of Ella.
“Hey,” I said softly. “How are you holding up?”
She managed a tired smile. “I’ve been better. But I’m here, which is more than I could say yesterday.”
I reached for her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. “Mikhail wants to talk about everything. Will you be okay if I step away for a bit?”
Her eyes flicked to where Mikhail waited in the kitchen doorway, then back to me. “We still need to talk to Nora.”
“I know,” I assured her. “As soon as I’m done with this, we’ll sit down together. Promise.”
She nodded, and I could see the exhaustion pulling at her. “Go ahead. We’ll be fine here.”
I straightened, turning to Kori, who hovered nearby. “Would you mind making some hot chocolate? For Nora?”
Kori smiled, understanding the unspoken request to keep an eye on them. “Coming right up. With extra marshmallows, right, kiddo?”
Nora nodded eagerly, momentarily distracted from her mother’s side.
I rejoined the men in the kitchen, where Mikhail had spread a map of the property across the island counter.
“I’ve set up motion sensors along the perimeter,” he explained, pointing to each area on the map. “And cameras at key access points. If anyone approaches within a mile radius, we’ll know.”
“Good,” I said, looking the map over. “What about communications? Cell service out here is spotty at best.”
“Already addressed,” Mikhail said, pointing to a small device on the counter. “Satellite phone. Untraceable. And I’ve installed signal boosters for the existing cell service.”
“For backup, we have these,” Rory said, setting a box of walkie-talkies on the counter.
I had to admit, they were thorough. “Any idea on a time when this is all going to go down?”
